Kitchen appliances



March 26, 1957 R. M. TURNER 2,786,502

KITCHEN APPLIANCES Filed Feb. 9, 1954 I5 Sheets-Sheet l I'll lHll I 'h 8 R I II I 68 1 A740. 4 Y 4 IN VEN TOR.

March 26, 1957 R. M. TURNER 2,785,502

KITCHEN APPLIANCES I Filed Feb. 9. 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 56 50 M145 l l I I 66 Ill 68 IN V EN TOR.

March 26, 1957 R. M. TURNER 2,786,502

KITCHEN APPLIANCES Filed Feb. 9. 1954 s Shee ts-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

KITCHEN APPLIANCES Ralph M. Turner, Rockville, Md.

Application February 9, 1954, Serial No. 409,144

6 Claims. (Cl. 146-43) This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in kitchen appliances adapted for either domestic or commercial use, and the principal object of this invention is to provide what may be called a multi-purpose apparatus which may be conveniently and effectively employed for the performance of various different operations ordinarily used in the preparation of food.

More specifically, this invention concerns itself with the provision of an appliance which includes a variety of different work engaging implements or tools and a supporting stand with which such tools may be selectively and interchangeably associated, the stand being provided with means for bringing the tools in operative engagement with the work so as to perform the particular functions for which the respective tools are intended.

structurally, an important feature of the invention resides in the arrangement of the aforementioned stand whereby the same is adapted to selectively and interchangeably receive the various tools, while functionally, other features reside in the variety and multiplicity of nited tates Patent C) different food preparing operations which the appliance as a whole is able to perform and which, conventionally, required the use of several separate implements. In accordance with these various functional features, the invention may be selectively employed, for example, for the peeling of fruits and vegetables, for the slicing and dicing of fruits and vegetables, for the coring of fruits, for the mashing of vegetables such as potatoes, for the squeezing of fruits such as oranges or lemons,for the beating of eggs, agitation of juices or other liquids, and

for many other similar operations. 1

With the above more important objects and features in view and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention resides in the arrangement of parts and details of construction as shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts and wherein:

Figure 6 is a fragmentary front elevation-al view, similar to that shown in Figure 2 but illustrating the invention in readiness for use as a slicer or dicer;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 7--7 in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary front elevational view illustrating the invention in readiness for use as a peeler;

Figure 9 is a side elevational view of the invention as shown in Figure 8;

7 2,786,562 Patented Mar. 26, 1957 Figure 10 is a perspective view of the arm and peeling member shown in Figures 8 and 9;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional detail on an enlarged scale, illustrating the separable means for attaching a tool to the tool carrier used in the invention;

Figure 12 is a top plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the slicing tool shown in Figure 7;

Figure 13 is an edge view of the tool shown in Figure 12;

Figure 14 is an enlarged sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 14-14 in Figure 12;

Figure 15 is a top plan view of the combined slicer and corer;

Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 16-46 in Figure 15;

Figure-17 is a group elevational view of a pair of squeezing tools;

Figure 18 is a group elevati-onal view of a pair of mashing-tools, one of these being shown partly in section; and

Figure 19 is a perspective view of a. knife used in the invention.

With reference now to the accompanying drawings in detail, particularly to Figures 1-4 thereof, the kitchen appliance is designated generally by the numeral 2t) and embodies in its construction an upright stand assembly 22 including a suitable base 24 carrying an upright standard 26, the upper end of the latter being provided with a fork 28 equipped with a transverse pin Ell. An actuating lever 32 has one end portion thereof pivotally mounted on this pin whereby the lever is adapted for swinging movement in a vertical plane. The free end of the lever carries a suitable handle 34. Means are provided for urging the lever to its upwardly swung position, these means consisting of a coil spring 36 which is disposed in a recess 38 provided in the pivoted end portion of the lever, one end of the spring being suitably anchored to the lever while its other end is similarly anchored to the fork 28, as will be clearly apparent from Figure 5.

A platform 40, configurated as is best shown in Figure 4, is provided with a bore 42 for slidable mounting upon the standard 26, while a bracket 44, best shown in Figure 3, is similarly mounted on the standard in a plane spaced upwardly from the platform. A pair of spaced vertical guides 46 extend between and are secured to the platform 40 and the bracket 44, whereby the platform and the bracket are. movable upwardly and downwardly on the standard 26 as a unit. However, a set screw 48 is provided on the bracket and is frictionally engageable with the standard, so as to lock the platform and bracket unit in a predetermined vertically adjusted position.

A tool carrier 50, best shown in Figure 3, is slidable vertically on the guides 46 between the platform 40 and the bracket 44, the carrier 56 being provided at the top thereof with a pair of ears 52 carrying a transverse pin 54 which extends through the lower end of a link 56. The upper end of this link is operatively connected by a pin 58 to an intermediate portion of the lever 32, so that by simply actuating the lever, the carrier 5% may be slid upwardly and downwardly on the guides 46 relative to the platform 41 It is to be noted that the pin 58 passes through a slot 61) in the lever 32 so as t prevent any possibility of binding when the various parts are in motion.

Referring now to the accompanying Figure 11, it will be observed that the carrier 51) is provided at the underside thereof with a pad 62 and that two or more depressions 64 are provided at circumferentially spaced points in the side edge of the carrier. The depressions 64 function as keeper seats for resilient clips 66 which are provided on the upper portion of various tools, such as for example, an electric motor 68. Thus, the clips 66 coact with the depressions 64 to provide quickly separable means for attaching the various tools to the underside of the carrier 3 59. The clips 66 may be secured to the associated tool in any suitable manner, as for example, by screws, one of which is shown at 7% With continuing reference to Figures l-3, it will be noted that the motor 6% has a downwardly extending shaft 72 which passes through a relatively large, circular recess 74 in the platform 4% and the lower end of the shaft 72. carries a suitable agitator 76 such as may be used for stirring liquids, beating eggs, and the like. The agitator 76 may be of any conventional character and it is to be also understood that in all embodiments of the invention employing an electric motor such as the above, the motor may be provided with built-in reduction gearing so that the shaft '72 is driven at an appropriate rate of speed to suit the particular operation for which the embodiment of the invention is intended.

When the above described embodiment of the invention is placed in use, a suitable container with the material v to be agitated or stirred is simply placed within the base 24 of the stand 22 and, upon energizing the motor 68, the lever 52 is lowered so that the agitator 76 is immersed in the material to perform the desired operation.

Referring next to the accompanying Figures 8-10 inclusive, the motor shaft 72a herein is equipped at its lower end with an arbor '78 on which a fruit or vegetable may be positioned as indicated by the dotted lines 80. A resilient arm 82 is removably attached at one end thereof to the underside of the platform 40 and extends downwardly therefrom, the lower end of this arm having pivotally connected thereto a suitable peeling member 34 of any conventional type. The resiliency of the arr is such as to urge the peeling member 84 in contact with the surface of the fruit or vegetable 80 and it will be apparent from the foregoing that as the fruit or vegetable is rotated by the shaft 72a and is simul taneously moved vertically by the actuation of the lever 32, the peeling member 84 will effectively remove the peel from the fruit or vegetable in a simple operation. The pivotal attachment of the peeling member to the arm 82 will assure that the peeling member is at all times properly aligned with the surface of the work, regardless of the usual uneven convexity such as the surface of the work presents. Moreover, the resiliency of the arm 82 also permits the device to automatically accommodate itself to work of various sizes and shapes.

it may be mentioned at this point that the arm 82 may be attached to the underside of the platform 40 as shown, or if preferred, may be adjustably attached to the standard 26 so that it may be moved upwardly or downwardly relative to and independently of the work itself.

With reference now to the accompanying Figures 12- 14- inclusive, the same illustrate a slicer which is designated generally by the numeral 86 and is adapted to be removably positioned in the recess 74 of the platform 40. For this purpose the recess of the platform is provided with a counterbore 74a which affords a shoulder func tioning as a seat for the slicer 86 as well as other tools hereinafter mentioned.

The slicer 9-6 embodies in its construction an annulus 88 which is provided in the top and side portions thereof with a plurality of grooves 941. A single length of wire, or the like, 92 is threaded through these grooves in a zig-zag fashion so as to extend transversely of the annulus and afiord a set of spaced parallel cutting or slicing elements 92a, best shown in Figure 12. The ends of the wire 92 are anchored in transverse apertures 94 provided in a pair of anchoring screws 96, the latter being positioned in screw-threaded apertures 98 with which the annulus 88 is formed. The apertures 98 are counterbored as shown at 1% so as to provide spaces for winding the wire 92 around the screws 96 when the screws are tightened. In this manner, the elements or portions 92a of the wire 92 may be maintained in a taut condition at all times.

When the slicer 86 is mounted in the recess 74 of the 4 platform 40 and a fruit or vegetable is positioned thereon as indicated at 102, the carrier 50 may be moved downwardly by actuation of the lever 32 so as to engage the fruit or vegetable and force the same downwardly through the slicer to effect the slicing operation.

If it is also desired to simultaneously dice the fruit or vegetable while it is being sliced, a double-edged knife 104, best shown in Figure 19, is pivotally attached at one end thereof to the underside of the platform 40 for swinging movement in a horizontal plane under the recess '74 of the platform. In this manner, the sliced strips of the fruit or vegetable will be cut horizontally or diced, as the fruit or vegetable emerges from the slicer. The knife 104 is provided at its free end with a suitable handle 196 for convenient manipulation.

The accompanying Figures 15 and 16 illustrate a combined slicing and coring tool 1% which may be positioned in the recess of the platform 4% in substitution for the slicer 86. This tool also consists of an annulus 116 similar to the annulus 88, but the cutter elements 112 in this instance are in the form of bars which extend transversely of the annulus and have sharp upper cutting edges. The elements 112 adjacent the center of the annulus are attached to and support a cutter ring 114 which separates the core from the body of the fruit or vegetable as the latter passes downwardly through the tool 1% during the slicing operation.

The accompanying Figure 17 illustrates an attachment such as may be used for squeezing of fruits such as lemons, oranges, and the like. The same consists of a male member 116 of a more-or-less conventional type which is adapted to be seated in the counterbore 74a of the recess 74 in the platform 40 and cooperates with a female member 113. The latter is provided with the aforementioned clips 66 for attachment to the underside of the carrier 50, so that a fruit may be squeezed between the members 116, 118 when the lever 32 is actuated.

Similarly, the accompanying Figure 18 illustrates an attachment such as may be used for mashing vegetables, namely, potatoes, or the like. In this instance a cupshaped work receptacle 120 is positioned in the counterbore 74a and has a foraminous lower portion 122 which projects downwardly through the recess 74, the receptacle being provided slightly above the foraminous lower portion thereof with an outturned annular rim 124 which supportably engages the seat afforded by the shoulder of the counterbore. A pressing member 126, provided with clips 66 for attachment to the carrier 54 has an enlarged head 128 at its lower end, the head 128 being slidably receivable in the receptacle 1243 so as to expel the contents of the latter through the foraminous lower portion 122 when the member 126 is moved downwardly by actuation of the lever 32.

It is to be noted that in all instances the platform and bracket unit 40, 44 may be adjusted upwardly or downwardly on the standard 26 so as to accommodate not only the various attachments described, but also to accommodate work of difierent sizes and conventional receptacles or utensils such as may be positioned in the base 24 to receive the processed food.

Also, with reference again to Figures l-3 and 6-8, it may be added that the respective shafts 72 and 72a therein may be used interchangeably with the same motor 68 by providing the power take-off connection of the motor with any conventional means of separably connecting the shafts thereto.

While in the foregoing there have been shown and described various preferred embodiments of the invention, other modifications and/or adaptations may be come apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Accordingly, it is not desired to limit the invention to this disclosure, but other modifications may be resorted to, such as may lie within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A kitchen appliance comprising an upright stand, a platform provided intermediate the ends of said stand and having a recess formed therein, a bracket provided on the stand above said platform, a plurality of vertical guides extending between said platform and said bracket, a carrier slidable on said guides, means on said stand for sliding said carrier, a motor separably attached to the underside of said carrier, a 'vertical shaft carried and driven by said motor and extending downwardly through the recess in said platform, and a work engaging tool provided at the lower end of said shaft.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said tool comprises a rotary agitator.

3. A kitchen appliance comprising a base, an upright stand provided thereon, a platform provided intermediate the ends of said stand, a bracket slidable on said stand above said platform, a set of guides secured to and extending between said platform and said bracket whereby the platform and the bracket may he slid unitarily on the stand to vary the distance of the platform from said base, releasable means for locking said bracket against sliding on the stand, a lever pivoted to the upper end of the stand for swinging in a vertical plane, a tool carrier slidable on said guides between said bracket and said platform, a link operatively connecting said lever to said carrier, and a pair of coacting tools attached to said carrier and to said platform.

4. The device as defined in claim 3 wherein one of said tools comprises a motor attached to said carrier and including a drive shaft parallel to said stand, a work receiving arbor provided on said drive shaft, the other of said tools comprising an arm secured at one end thereof to said platform and having a free end portion resiliently urged toward the axis of said drive shaft, and a work peeling member provided at the free end of said arm, whereby the same may spirally peel work rotated by said arbor while said carrier is slid on said guides.

5. The device as defined in claim 3 wherein said platform is provided with an aperture, one of said tools comprising a motor attached to the underside of said carrier and including a drive shaft extending downwardly through the aperture in said platform, a work receiving arbor provided at the lower end of said drive shaft, the other of said tools comprising an arm secured at one end thereof to the underside of said platform and extending downwardly therefrom, said arm having a free lower end portion urged resiliently toward the axis of said drive shaft, and a work peeling member pivotally mounted at the lower end of said arm, whereby the same may spirally peel work rotated by said arbor while said carrier is slid on said guides.

6. The structure as defined in claim 5 together with quickly separable means for attaching said motor to said carrier, said last mentioned means comprising a plurality of resilient clips secured to said motor, said carrier having a marginal edge provided with depressions constituting seats for frictionally receiving said clips.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,470,296 Stedman Oct. 9, 1923 2,373,781 Richardson Apr. 17, 1945 2,403,190 Parraga July 2, 1946 2,506,228 Lofstrand May 2, 1950 2,679,688 Buschman June 1, 1954 

